Brewer Paces Both Teams in UA?s Red-White Game

BY ANDRES FOCIL

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The White team couldn’t beat Ronnie Brewer in Arkansas’ Red-White Game Saturday in Bud Walton Arena, so they joined him. Actually, Brewer joined the White.

After hitting all five field goal attempts, including a pair of threes, and four-of-five free throws for 16 points to stake the Red to a 47-32 halftime advantage, Brewer traded jerseys and suited up for the White.

In the second period, he was eight-of-11 from the floor, including four-of-seven on threes, and made both free throw attempts for 22 points.

He finished with 38 points on 13-of-16 shooting. He was six-of-nine on threes and six-of-seven at the line, and added six rebounds, four assists and three steals.

With Brewer on the White team in the second half, the two squads were even at 40-40 with the Red winning the game, 87-72.

When Brewer, the preseason Southeastern Conference player of the year and a preseason All-American on several teams, wasn’t scoring, Darian Townes, Charles Thomas, Dontell Jefferson, Jonathon Modica and Preston Cranford were.

Townes, who played for the White, made 10-of-16 shots, and finished with 26 points and a game-high 13 rebounds. Townes had 16 points on eight-of-11 shooting in the opening half with four turnovers. In the second half, he had 10 points, eight rebounds and just two turnovers.

Thomas, on the Red team along with Jefferson, was six-of-13 shooting for 13 points with 11 coming in the first half. Jefferson, competing for the starting point guard job with freshman Sean McCurdy, had eight points in each half. He was six-of-11 from the floor and three-of-three at the line, and added four rebounds and two assists.

Cranford also switched teams, going from the White to the Red, and had a big day. In the first half, he was two-of-two, both threes. In the second, he was three-of-five, including three-of-four on threes, and two-of-two at the line, finishing with 11 points in the second period and 17 for the game.

Modica was seven-of-20 from the field, finishing with 18 points, six rebounds, five assists and two steals with only one turnover for the Red.

Sophomore center Steven Hill showed more aggressiveness than last year, finishing with 10 points on four-of-eight shooting, nine rebounds and four blocked shots for the Red.

McCurdy scored just three points for the Red, but he had three assists with no turnovers.

On the White, Vincent Hunter, who missed last year with a shoulder injury, was five-of-eight for 12 points with seven rebounds and three blocked shots.

Freshman forward Cyrus McGowan had six rebounds and two blocked shots.

Junior guard Gary Ervin, who must sit out this year after transferring from Mississippi State, had a game-high 10 assists and added four points.

The Razorbacks play host to Southwest (Mo.) Baptist Friday at 7:05 p.m. in their first exhibition game of the season.